Cutter



Sept, 6 1927,

J. D. LASSWELL 3 Sheets-Shee l v CUTTER Filed 001:. '7, 1926 ept 6 1927 J. D. LASSWELL CUTTER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001:. '7, 1926 L I I IL Patented Septa 6, i921 llhdd anssn n. LasswnLL, or eirrcaoo, rrinors.

CUTTER.

Application filed October 7, 1926.

May 22,1900.

The various printers lead and rule cutters with which I am familiar are adapted solely for cutting the work in a transverse direction into desired lengths. It is a well known fact to those skilled in the printing art that 5 the printed page.

in instances where the last line of a linotype slug contains but a few words, the adjacent blank space will come into contact with the inking rolls and transmit a black mark to To overcome this it is necessary to cut down, at least to quad height, the stock of the slug at the site of a blank space at the end of the last type line. it is therefore the primary object of my inzc vention to provide a machine of this charthe typeless portions to prevent the inking acter Which in addition to serving as a transverse slug or rule cutter, is also adapted to cut longitudinally of a linotype slug and to trim down to quad or othcrdesired height devices from com ng into contact therewith and consequently smearing the printing.

In its more limited aspects the invention contemplates a machine of the kind stated,

having a novel longitudinally extending gage strip and mounting and holding means therefor wherebythe linotype slug or other work: may be accurately positioned either transversely or longitudinally with respect to the plane of the cutting elements.

The invention also for an object to furnish in a machine as characterized, an improved form of coacting cutters which admit of the accurate severance of a rectangu; lar ended longitudinal section from a linotype slug or other work at any point throughout its length, and without detracting from the utility of the cutters when used for transversely cutting work.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a peculiar relative arrangement of cutters, mounting and operating elements therefor whereby the linotype slugs or other work may be freely moved in the direction of their lengths transversely of the machine without obstruction, the entire transverse portion of the machine in the vicinity of the cutters, at one side thereof being clear so that the operator can readily and accurately determine just the right depth and starting point of a longitudinal cut to reduce a type- Serial no. 140,145.

less portion of a slug to quad height, it being understood that sucharrangement admits of the ready manipulation of gage or guide elements for the slug.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which like,

numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure l is a perspective of the improved machine;

Figure 2 is a group perspective of'a medial adjustable rib and the means to hold the same in place; I

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4a is a perspective of a fixed blade embodied in the invention;

Figure 5 is an end view of the machine;

Figure 6 is a detail view illustrating a. spring by which the movable blade is urged to elevated position; i Figure 7 is a group perspective illustratpug a stop member embodied in the invenion;

Figure 8 is a group perspective of an fustable stop and the attaching means there- Figure 9 is a detail sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Figure 10;

Figure 10 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the machine.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a sin cuttto quad height and showing the out par In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 desi nates a bed having legs 6 by means of whic the machine may be secured to a bench or other support.

In carrying out the invention, a bracket 7 is formed integral with the bed or is otherwise connected thereto and has connection with a hand lever 8 by means of which a knife blade 10 on a knife arm ll'may he forced downwardly into cutting engagement with a slug. The'blade 10 coo crates with a fixed blade 120m of the which is to out the slugs transversely into the required lengths for setting up preparatory to printing.

The two blades 10 and 12 efi'ectively c0- operate in the transverse cutting of the slug auctions of and in addition cooperate when it is desired to trim the slug longitudinally. More specifically, the last line of a paragraph may include only one or two words so that the remainder of the line is left blank. If the remaining part of the line or more specifically that part of theline which bears no type is not trimmed to quad-height or substantially to that height, it will receive ink from the inking rollers with the result that a black mark will appear on the paper printed. However, in accordance with this invention a ,slug may be fiickly, neatly and easily trimmed so that t at part of the slug which bears no type will not have contact with the roller or rollers as the casemay be. I

In carrying out the invention the medial gauge str1 15 mounted on the bed is provided with a central longitudinal rib '16 which as clearl shown in Figure 3 extends through the be and has connection with an attaching strip 17. The attaching strip 17 is connected to. the rib 16 by screw bolts 18 or-other suitable fastening devices. At this 'point it is noted that the fastenln devices .18 are left loose enough .to permit of the easy longitudinal movement of the medial gauge stri 15. c,

e medial gauge strip is adapted to assume two extreme positions, one of which is illustrated in Figure 1 wherein the same 1s moved readwardly to that position it is adapted to occu y when the slugs are being snipped longitu inally. The rib 16 operates in a slot as illustrated in Figure 3 and the ends of the rib may engage the slots to limit endwise movement of the medial strip.

When the machine is to be employed for longitudinally cutting a slug. t e medial strip 15 is retracted to the position shown in Figure 1 to allow sufficient space forthe slug to extend transversel of the bed in oplgrative proximity to the lades 10 and 12. articular attention is directed to the facttha-t when the medial gauge strip 15- is in its retracted position the forward end of the same 'is on a line with a guide lug 22 so that the medial guide strip and the lug cooperate in properly ositioning the slug to be snippe longitudinal y to cut a. portion of the same to uad-hei ht.

e attac ing plate 17 is provided with a downwardl directed flange having an aperture 31 a apted to receive the tapered or cone shaped head of a locking pin 33. The locking pin, or more specifically the head of the same is urged into locking engagement with the flange 30 by a spring '34. A suitable knob 36 is mounted on the outer end of the locking pin 33 and forms a means whereby the pin may be manually retracted when it is'desired to move the medial strip back for use'in longitudinally cutting a slug or slu When the gauge strip 15 is moved back 5 cone shaped head of the pm 33 will merely have frictional contact with the adjacent surface of the flange 30 and will not interfere with the easy return of the ga-uge'strip to the retracted position shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 illustrates that the fixed blade 12 is provided with a lateral branch 41 at one end thereof for use in the longitudinal snipping of the slug. More specifically, the

lateral branch 41 is located beneath one end of the movable blade 10 and cooperates with the same in severing the end of the part of the slug to be cut away. Without this lateral branch 41 the .end of the cut would be rough and ragged. However, the lateralbranch 41 does not interfere with the use of the machlne in making transverse cuts as the movable blade 10 may extend entirely oyed to hold the head 54 against turning. This causes the serrations in the head 54 to remain in an ope-rative position with respect to the serrations in the underside of the rod 51.

Referring now to Figure 8, it will be seen that the gauge head 50 is provided with side plates 62 which extend into longitudinal grooves 63 in the bed 5 to guide the gauge head and hold the operative face of th same at right angles to the line of the medial" d rectiori of the blades.

It is further to be noted on. reference to Figures 1 and 8 that the plates 62 are each 1 provided with duplicate slots 62* through which the fastening screws 62 are extend-"d into the block 50. This construction admits Major adjustment of the block 70 on the square supporting rod 7 5 of the same is accomplished by releasing a spring actuated holding pin 76 on the underside of the block. The holding pin 76 has a head provided with serrations adapted to engage the serrations in the underside of the rod 75 so that it is a simple matter to move the block along the rod toprovide for major adjustment or if desired to entirely remove the same.

In carrying out the invention the blade carrying arm 11 may be urged to elevated position by means of a coil spring 79 anchored to the arm and t0 the adjacent leg 6.

WVith reference to the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing it will be seen that the transverse snipping of the slugs is not in any way complicated or interfered with by the alteration and improvement which makes it possible to'cut the slugs or portions of them to quad-height so that those por-' tions of the slugs which do not bear type will receive no ink from the inking roller. When it is desired to cut slugs transversely it is only necessary to slide the medial gauge strip 15 to its advanced position with its forward end adjacent the stationary blade 12. Slugs are then laid alongside the strip with their rear ends backed by the gauge block 50 and are snipped off as usual.

When it is desired to adjust the machine to cut the slugs longitudinally, it is simply necessary to move the medial rib 15 back to a position where the forward end of the same is in line with the forward edge of the lug 22 so that these two surfaces cooperate in effectively holding the slug in position during the longitudinal cutting of the same, As previously suggested the slug is cut longitudinally and transversely when it is desired to cut a portion of the slug to quad-height and thus the necessity for the lateral branch 41 on the fixed blade 40.

Referring to Figures 1 and 11, Figure 1 clearly illustrates in dotted .lines a slug S disposed transversely of the machine and positioned with respect to the blades 10 and 153 so that a rectangular typeless section S (Figure 11) will be snipped off from-its front longitudinal portion adjacent the right Thus the l and end as seen in said figure. tJ-"jI'GlGSS edge of the slug S W111 be reduced to quad height, leaving the extreme right hand type bearing end S of the slug at its normal height. I

It is also to be noted from Figurel that the blade 10 is mounted on an offset surface 11 of the arm 11 so as tooverhang the fixed blade 12 in spaced lateral relation to the plane of the major portion of the arm. Furthermore the bracket 7 andthe bearing of arm 11 lie in a plane beyond or forwardly of the plane of the offset end 41 of the stationary cutting blade 12. The advantage of this construction will be readily apparentto those skilled in the art. It enables the slug to have a clear unobstructed pathway for-transverse movement across the bed 5 of the machine, the ends of the slug projecting beyond the edges of the bed if necessary. By the same token, the clear unobstructed area mentioned combined with the offset mounting of the blade 12 enables the operator to accurately set the slug S to just the proper relative position with respect to the knives so as to make sure not to cut-away. any of the type bearingportion of the slug.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. 'A machine for cutting slugs comprising a bed having a fixed knife, a movable knife cooperating with the fixed knife in cutting slugs, and a medial rib having means to position the slugs when extended longitudinally or transversely, one end of one of said knives having a lateral branch.

'2. A machine for cutting slugs comprising a bed having a fixed knife, a movable knife cooperating with the fixed knife in cntting slugs, and a medial rib having means to position the slugs when extended longitudinally or transversely, said bed having means cooperating with the forward end of said medial rib in positioning the slug when extended transversely of the machine, one end ofone of said knives being provided with a lateral branch.

3; A slug cntting machine comprising a bed, a medial gauge strip movable on the bed and having a rib, an attaching plate connected to said rib, and a locking device to engage said plate to secure said medial gauge strip in an adjusted position.

' 4. 'A slug cutting machine comprising a bed, a gauge member adjustable thereon and having means whereby the same may ,be se' cured in adjusted position, said bed being. provided with an upstanding lug adapted to cooperate with one end of said gauge member in indicating the position of a slug when thesame is to be cut longitudinally,-a b'lade adjacent said gauge member and having a lateral branch for use in making a short transverse cut, and a second blade co-acting with said firstblade. I

5. A slug cutting machine eomprisin a bed, a squared rectangular rod adjustafbly connected thereto, and a gauge head having direct connection with said rod, and an adjustable gauge strip associated with said head.

6. A machine of the character specified comprising a bed. having cutting means, a block having an attaching rod secured to said bed, an arm slidable transversely of its axis and carried by the block, contact points carried by the arm and directed toward the work in advance of the block, and a Vernier adjustment for the arm.

7. A machine of the character specified comprising a bed having cutting means, a block having an attaching rod secured to said bed, an arm slidable transversely of its axis and carried by the block, contact points carried by the arm and directed toward the Work in advance of the block, and a vernier adjustment for the arm, and means whereby the block may be secured in an adjusted position.

8. In machine of the class described, the combination ct" a bed having a stationary cutting blade transversely carried by said bed, a superposed lever carried blade, brackets at either side oi the bed for support ing said lever and its operating means, said lever and brackets lying in planes parallel to and outwardly oii'set from the plane of said blade, whereby to leave the transverse portion of the bedentirely unobstructed adjacent said stationary blade to admit of the accurate transverse adjustment of the work to project from one side of the bed to the other.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a bed having a stationary cutting blade transversely carried by said bed, a superposed lever carried blade, brackets at either side of the bed for supporting said lever and its operating means, said lever and brackets lying in planes parallel to and outwardly offset from the plane of said blades, whereby to leave the transverse portion of the bed entirely unobstructed adacent said stationary blade to admit of the accurate transverse adjustment of the work to project from one side of the bed to the other, and gauge means associated with said bed for guiding the work in its transverse adjustment across said bed.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a bed having a stationary cutting blade transversely carried by said bed, a superposed lever carried blade, brackets at either side of the bed for sup menace porting said lever and its operating means, said lever and brackets lying in planes parallel to and outwardly offset from the plane of said blades, wherebyto leave the transverse portion of the bed entirely unobstructed. adjacent said stationary blade to admit of the accuratevtransverse adjustment of the work to project from one side of the bed to the other. and gaugemeans associated with said bed for guiding" the workin its transverse adjustment across said bed, said gauge means including a longitudinally adjustable strip carried by said bed.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a bed having a stationary cutting blade transversely carried by said bed and having a. laterally offset end, a superposed lever carried blade, brackets at either side of the bed for supporting said lever and its operating means, and, said lever and brackets lying in planes parallel to and outwardly otl'set from the plane of the laterally oli'set end of said stationary blade, whereby to leave the bed entirely unobstructed adjacent said stationary blade to admit of the accurate transverse adjustment of the work from one side'oi' the bed to the other.

12. A. machine of the character specified comprising a bed having cutting means, a block slidable toward the cutting, means. an arm s'lidable transversely of its axis and carried by the blockfthe ends of the arm extending beyond the sides of the block, contact points carried by the arm beyond the sides of the block and directed toward the work in advance of the block, and means for adjusting the arm. relatively of the block and in the direction of the work.

13. A machine for cutting slugs comprising a bed having a fixed knife, a movable knife cooperating with the fixed knife in cutting slugs. a medial rib having means to position the slugs when extended longitudinally or transversely, and one of said knives having a lateral oli'set cooperating with the other knife for cutting a rectangular segment from one edge of a slug in a single operation.

14. A machine for cutting slugs compristill til?) till iltlll 

